“Such a shock:” New Berlin police conduct investigation; 2 people in their 70s dead

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NEW BERLIN -- The New Berlin Police Department is conducting a death investigation after an elderly man and woman were found dead inside their New Berlin home on Hickory Trail on Wednesday, November 23rd -- each suffering from a gunshot wound.

Two dead in apparent murder-suicide in New Berlin

According to officials, police responded to a call for help from a man at the home around 6:30 a.m.

"There was a male caller who did not identify himself, but gave an address and said help was needed here. The dispatcher asked for more details and he just repeated that help was needed here. That's all he said," said Capt. Mike Glider with the New Berlin Police Department.

The dispatcher was unable to regain phone contact.

Death investigation on Hickory Trail in New Berlin

When officers arrived at the home, they found the front door open. After entering the home, they smelled burnt gun powder and found two victims -- a 76-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman. Both victims were in a bedroom -- each suffered a single gunshot wound.

Police say the man was pronounced dead at the scene -- and the woman was still alive. The woman was transported by the New Berlin Fire Department to a medical facility for treatment, where she later died.

This incident has shocked the neighborhood.

Death investigation on Hickory Trail in New Berlin

"They told me who it was and I was just shocked because it was an older couple that were very quiet. They lived down the street since I started living here...my whole life. It was just such a shock to me," said Danielle Svehlek, a neighbor.

Svehlek told FOX6 News the 71-year-old woman was often seen caring for her pets.

"She always walked her dogs everyday. She loved her dogs. I always waved to her when I drove past her," Svehlek said.

Death investigation on Hickory Trail in New Berlin

Police said they found several dogs and cats alive in the home.

Officials are not releasing the identities of the victims at this time. They will not confirm this was a murder-suicide. They did say they have no suspects in custody -- and are not looking for any suspects.

Death investigation on Hickory Trail in New Berlin

"The holidays are coming up and it was just, you know, really it got to me knowing Thanksgiving is (Thursday) and such a tragedy happening," Svehlek said.

Two dead in apparent murder-suicide in New Berlin

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

8 comments

According to the Bible suicide is a sin that can’t be forgiven ! People who are looking for solutions to their everyday problems must realized that God is with them and all they have to do is ask the Lord for guidance but they don’t

georgebush

SD Harkrader

Luckily, they were not subject to the violent, evil Christianist god. They neither aspired to his “heaven” nor feared his “hell.” You, however, michaelwillams85, are an evil person for attempting to judge them by your Christianist bigotry.

Chuck Conners (The Rifleman)

John W

John W

This is horrendous journalism and editing! WTF is New Berlin? A suburb of Old Berlin? Probably in Waukesha County? WTF is Waukesha County? If I were a senior person in the organization that wrote, edited, and posted this story, one or more of the people involved would be fired.